Skirt-length-measuring gage.



S. T. WALTON. SKIRT LENGTH MEASURING GAGE.

Patented July APPLIOATIQN FILED JULY 1,1911. 1 ,030,95 1

2 swims-sunny 1.

M W M UNITED s'rA'rns PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL 'r. WALTON, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, Assrenon TO s. a r. METALS company, A communion or new YORK.

SKIRT-LENGTH-MEASURING GAGE.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed July 1, 1911. Serial No. 636,523.

To all whom 'it may concern:

'Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. WALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Length-lVIeasuring Gages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to measuring devices, and has particular reference to that class of such devices which is adapted for gaging the lengths of skirts, or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a skirt length measuring gage with a stationary back for engagement against the inner side of a skirt and having a vertically adjustable tongue resting against the skirt at a predetermined heightabove the floor to indicate the lower, edge of-the skirt, the gage also having a gage plate, mounted upon a movable frame and adapted to be pressed against the outer side of the skirt and about the tongue to hold a portion of the material between the tongue and the plate so that the material may be suitably marked at such point to indicate the lower edge of the skirt. The invention has for another object to peculiarly mount the tongue and the gage plate upon the back and the movable frame so that they may be vertically adjusted for cooperation at various heights as desired.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a relatively broad tongue for cooperation with the gage plate to firmly hold a large portion of the skirt through the gage plate and admit of the placing of or the like, by dressmakers where it is necessary to employ a portable-device. 7

Other ob 'ects and advantages of this invention will more readily appear from the following description and appended claims.v

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of the improved gage; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same; Fig.

3 is a front View of the gage disclosing a portion of the skirt applied thereto; Fig. 4 isa top plan view of the device; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same, folded.

Referring to the drawings, in which is disclosed one embodiment of this invention, 10 designates a base plate having an overturned inner end providing an overhanging base flange 11. Preferably the longitudinal edges of the base 10 are crimped for the purpose of reinforcing the base.

Hinged upon the edge of the overhanging base flange 11 is a normally stationary back 12, the lower edge of the back 12 and the edge of the flange 11 being provided with rolled inter-meshing tongues 13 'hingedly connected by a transverse pin 14. The back 12 is preferably in the form of a metallic plate bent outwardly at its'sides, as at 14, for the purpose of reinforcing the plate and of providing rounded edges thereto, so as not to catch the material of the skirt as it is adjusted over the face of the plate. The lower edges of the sides 14: rest upon the upper face of the base flange 11 when the back 12 is in its upright posit-ion. The edges of the sides 14: are preferably rolled inwardly to reinforce the sides, and to re ceive the ends of a locking bail 15. The bail 15 is in the form of a length of Wire having its free ends passing through the inner opposite faces of the rolled edges of the sides 14', the extremities of the bail 15 being turned down within the rolled edges to insure the retention of the bail 15 when under pressure. The intermediate portion of the. bail 15 is returned upon itself and bent inwardly to provide a hook 16 of double thick ness. The overturned portion of the base 10 is provided with a suitable opening 1 7 at the outer edge of the base flange 11 adapted to receive the hook 16 when the back 12 is in an upright position to hold the latter stationary.

-The back 12 is provided with a vertical and central depression 18 extending substantially throughout the entire ength of.

the back, and with a longitudinal and vertiform of an outturncd flange upon the upper edge of the ton ue base 21, seated in the depression 1S and adapted for sliding movement'throughout its length.

The tongue base 21 carries a threaded stem 22 extending through the slot 19 and carrying upon its outer end a knurled thumb nut 23. The thumb nut. 23 is adapted for binding engagement against the inner sideof the back 12 to bind the tongue base 21 within the depression 18 when adjusted.

As will be observed from Fig. 4, the tongue is provided with outwardly beveled ends 21, reducing the length of the outer edge of the tongue and providing inrlined guiding portions for the reception of a piece of chalk, a pin-point, or the like, when the same is passed over a portion of material stretched over the tongue. The outer edge of the tongue 20 is provided with a longitudinal groove 25, into which the chalk presses the skirt material as it is being marked so as to insure a horizontal mark of suitable length. The groove 25 is also adapted to receive 'and guide a pin when placed in the skirt material so as to dispose the pin horizontally to serve as a guide in forming the hem upon the skirt.

Hinged upon the base 10 forwardly of the back 12 is a movable frame 26. The frame 26 is preferably in the form of a length of heavy wire bent U-shaped,-and having its free ends extending up in parallelism against the outer face of the back 12. The lower or closed end of the frame 26 is journaled in spaced bearings 27 carried by the base 10, the portion of the frame between the bear ings being offset outwardly and upwardly to provide a crank 28. The bearings 27 are preferably formed from rolled tongues cut or stamped from the base 10, the same providing a slot 29 in the base, through which the crank 28 passes when the frame 26 is swung down against the base 10. The base 10 is provided, midway of its ends, with a pair of spaced'ears 30 struck up from the base 16 for pivotally supporting an operating lever 31. The operating lever 31 is disclosed in the present embodiment of the invention as beingin the form of a metallic strip lying substantially in a horizontal plane, and having a vertically twisted portion. midway between its ends for engage m'ent between the ears 30, and for the reception of a detachable cotter-pin 32 pivotally supporting the operating lever 31. The

' oute r end of the lever 31 is curved upwardly in any desired manner to provide a handle, while the inner end of the lever 31 is overturned about the crank 28 to provide an open or detachable hook 33 engaging the crank to swing the movable frame 26 toward and from the back 12 by the movement of the lever 31.

The upstanding arms or ends of the movable frame 26 providea pair of spaced guides upon which is adjustably mounted a gage plate 34. The gage plate 34 is in the form of a strip of metal engaging the outer face of the stationary back 12 and having its ends rolled outwardly to form sleeves 35 way of the ends of the sleeves 3:) the material is cut and projected outwardly to provide outstanding lugs 36, hingedly supporting locking cams 37 binding against the rounded forward edges of the guides or sides of the frame 26. The gage plate 34 is provided with a horizontal tongue-receiving slot 3.) formed Thumb levers 38 project outwardly from the locking cams 37 to admit of the turning of the same into and out. of engagement with respect to the guides.

In the operation of this iuuiroved gage, the operating lever 31 is swung up to move the crank 28 down toward the base 10 and swing the. movable frame 26 outwardly from the stationary back 12. The lower edge of the skirt. A is dropped between the stationary back 12 and the frame 26, when the tongue 20 is adjusted in the depression 18 at the desired height upon the back to designate the lower edge or the depth of the hem desired upon the skirt. When the tongue 20 is thus adjusted and it is desired to mark the skirt, the operating lever 31 is moved down to raise the crank 28 to swing the frame 26 against the outer side of the skirt. When the frame 26 moves up against the back 12, the gage plate 34. presses the skirt about the tongue 20 and draws the material taut own the same. As the tongue 20 projects through the slot 39 considerably beyond the outer face of the gage plate 34, a piece of chalk can be readily moved along the outer edge of the tongue 20 and within the groove 25 so as to mark the material. When the material is in this position over the tongue 20, a pin can bereadily inserted through the material and the groove 25 from one end of the tongue, the inclined edge 24 acting as a guide to direct the 25. The tongue-receivln slot 39 is of a length slightly greater than the length of the tongue 20, and is of considerably greater WldtllvSO as to admit of the passage of the pin through the slot- 39 together with the material from which the skirt is made.

When it is desiredto fold the improved gage to carry the same, or to store the same In a relatively small space, the cotter-pin 32 is removed from the ears 30 to-release the operating lever 31, the same being then disengaged from the crank 28. The frame .26

cent-rally therein;

stationary about, whereby is now swung down against thev base 10, the crank 28 passing down throughthe slot 29. The hook 16 of the bail 15 is now removed from the overturned portion'of the base 10 to admit of the swinging of the back 12 down over the frame 26. The handle 31 and the cotter-pin 32 are placed between the base 10 and back 12, or upon the back 12 between the sides 14', as desired.

Various changes maybe made in the minor details of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such as in the construction of the base 10 and back 12, or in the peculiar construction of the movable frame 26 and its connection with the operating lever 31.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A skirt length gage comprising a base,- an upstanding back carried by the base, an adjustable tongue disposed upon the back forengagement with a skirt, a movable frame mounted upon the base for engagement against the back, and an adjustable gage-plate carried upon the movable frame for engagement over the tongue to draw the skirt material taut thereabout.

2. A skirt length gage having a base, a back upstanding from the base, an adjustable tongue disposed upon the back and ex tending therefrom, a frame upon the base movable toward and from the back, a gage plate adjustable upon the frame and having an elongated slot for the reception of the tongue, and operating means upon the base having connection with the frame to move the gage plate over the tongue and force a portion of a skirt through the plate.-

3. In a skirt length gage, a tongue having a relatively .long' outer edge with a groove extending its entire length, and a gage plate for movement over the tongue to draw a portion of the material taut theremay be made upon the material.

1. In a skirt length gage, a tongue, a gage plate having tongue, the plate being adapted to bind a a slot loosely receiving the portion of material about the tongue, said tongue having a groove in its outer edge for the reception of the material and the edge of the chalk, whereby a straight chalk line may be made uponthe material.

5. In a skirt length gage, an elongated tongue for engagement against the skirt, and a gage plate for engagement against the opposite side of the skirt to force the same over the tongue, said tongue having a groove therein for guiding a pin inserted in the skirt.

6. In a skirt length gage, a tongue for engagement against one side of the skirt, a gage plate or engagement against the opa relatively long chalk markposite side of the skirt and having a relatively large slot receiving the tongue and a portion 0 the skirt, said tongue having beveled ends and a longitudinal groove in its outer edge whereby a pin is directed through the material-into the groove.

7 In. a skirt length gage, a horizontal base, a back hinged upon the base and adapted to fold down thereupon, a frame hinged upon the base and adapted to fold down between the back and the base, and a detachable operating lever connected to the base and frame for operating the latter, and adapted to lie between the above folded members when disconnected.

8. A skirt length age comprising a base, a back upstanding rom the base, a frame 'disposed upon the base and movable toward and from the back, a flat relatively wide tongue carrled adjustably and horizontally upon the back,'a gage plate adjustable upon the frame and having a horizontal slot loosely receiving the tongue to press out horizontally a portion of an inter osed skirt, and an operating handle carrie upon the base and connected with the frame to move the latter.

9. In a skirt length gage, a base, a back hinged upon the base, a locking bail carried upon the back for engagement with the base to hold the back in upright position, a gage member mounted for vertical adjustment upon the back, a frame hinged upon the base for movement toward and from the back, a cooperating gage member arranged for vertical adjustment upon the frame, a crank carried by the frame and extendingv up from the base, and an operating lever pivoted u on the base and having a hook engaging 'with the crankto swing the frame.

' 10. A skirt length gage including a back,

a tongue mounted for vertical adjustment upon the. back, aframe movable toward and from the back, and a vertical adjustable gage plate carried upon the frame for engagement over the tongue for drawing taut a portion of material engaging over the tongue.

11. A skirt length gage comprising a base, v

'an upright back adapted to fold down upon the base, a frame upon the base adapted for movement toward and from the back, and adapted to be folded down upon the base, vertically adjustable gage members carried upon the back and the frame, and a detabhable operatingilever carried upon the base for engagement with the frame.

12. A skirt length measuring gage comprising a base, a back,a hinge pin connecting the back to the base, said back, having rearwardly diverging rounding off the edges of the back to admit of the free movement of the skirt thereagainst, the lateral flanges of the back exflanges at its free edges tending toward the ends of the hinge pin to my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- Ward ofl the skirt therefrom, a movable nes ses.

frame upon the base and cooperating gage members carried upon the back and the SAMUEL A T 5 frame for bulginia portion of the skirt out- Witnesses:

wardly to be mar ed. WM. 0. Fos'rnn,

In testimony. whereof I have hereunto set RICHARD B. HAND. 

